Corinne McKay was a former French high school teacher in the United States.  She went from earning $9,000 a year from 3-4 clients and working 20 hours a week in the first year, $18,000 her second year, to $36,000 in year three. According to a recent compensation survey of the American Translators Association, a self-employed freelance translator working full time in the US earns about $50,000 a year. Corinne expects to meet that while working about 30 hours a week and taking four weeks of vacation each year.

Tips for beginning freelance translators

Corinne offers her suggestions for those getting started…

• Be realistic. To work full-time as a translator you’ll need a sizable list of regular clients. It may take a year or more until you are working full time. In Corrine’s case, she contacted about 400 translation agencies her first year in business. It took about 18 months until she earned an amount equal to her previous full time job. While you may work 30-40 hours each week, it may more realistic to plan on only billing 25  hours a week.
• Never stop marketing. When you get steady work, it’s tempting to think that agencies will keep referring you. Work flows go up and down. Agencies go out of business. Keep sending your resume to 3-5 new agencies each week.
• Don’t forget your own backyard Check the yellow pages under “interpreters and translators.”
• Join the associations. The American Translators Association and local chapters will establish your seriousness as a translator, and to meet other translators.
• Ask for advice. Check out freelancers groups. Talk with those with more experience than you.
• Focus your resume on specific translation skills Highlight your specific skills right away such as “Spanish-bilingual software specialist,” or “Native speaker of Arabic with mechanical engineering background,” etc.
• Offer services other translators don’t  Many experienced translators don’t have a financial need to work nights, weekends, rush jobs, etc. Set yourself apart
• Get your certifications You don’t have to get certified by the American Translators Association but it can lead to an increase in business.
• Consider the other advantages of freelancing You might qualify for significant tax deductions for business related expenses. If you work from home you won’t be paying commuting expenses, lunch out, work clothes, etc.
• Keep in touch As you apply to agencies, keep a file of the person you talked to or e-mailed with, and what his or her response was to your inquiry. As you get more experience, periodically contact these people again to let them know a) you’re still there and b) you have some new projects to tell them about.
• Never take on work you can’t handle. Don’t do what you don’t know, particularly in a small community of translators and translation consumers. Clients will appreciate your honesty and use you for projects better suited to you.
• Keep them happy Finish projects on time and on budget. NEVER miss a deadline without notifying a client as soon as possible it won’t be done by the deadline. Return phone calls and e-mails within one business day. When you can’t do the job,  refer them to a colleague. Be professional in all of your dealings.

Source: www.project4hire.com

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Tags: expat, freelance, translator